title: Softening of the mouse zona pellucida during oocyte maturation.
abstract: A change in the elasticity and the resistance to dissolution of the mouse zona pellucida (ZP) was quantitatively evaluated at immature germinal vesicle (GV), mature metaphase II (MII) and fertilized pronuclear (PN) stages. Young's modulus of the ZP was measured using a micro tactile sensor (MTS), a highly sensitive resonator-based sensor for a micro scale elasticity measurement. 0.25% α-chymotrypsin was used for the ZP dissolution assay. The results of measuring the ZP elasticity and the dissolution time clearly showed that the ZP softened during oocyte maturation and the ZP hardened after fertilization. The results indicate that the amount of the zona softening can be a criterion to evaluate oocyte quality for the selection of top quality mature oocyte before in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment.
authors.forename: Yoshinobu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Murayama
authors.forename: Kenta
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Harutaka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Jinji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mizuno
authors.forename: Kazuyuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Akaishi
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Inui
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002918:Chymotrypsin; D004548:Elasticity; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009865:Oocytes / Q000737:chemistry*; D009866:Oogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D015044:Zona Pellucida / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D002918:Chymotrypsin; C117608:alpha-chymotrypsin